The Cormorant Relief Act of 2025 updates regulations for managing double-crested cormorants at fish farms and similar facilities. This is important to help protect aquaculture businesses from potential damage caused by these birds.
Cormorant Relief Act of 2025This bill requires the Department of the Interior to reissue the depredation order for double-crested cormorants at aquaculture facilities in certain states. (The previous order was vacated in 2016 by court order.) Depredation orders allow for the taking (i. e., capturing, killing, dispersing, or transport of the carcass) of a specified species without a permit, generally to reduce damage caused by the species or to protect interests like health or property. Reissuing this order authorizes landowners, operators, tenants, and employees of entities engaged in aquaculture to take double-crested cormorants that are causing or threatening harm at aquaculture facilities and state and federal fish hatcheries. Interior must reissue the depredation order with updates, including an expansion of (1) the number of states covered by the order, and (2) the entities to whom the order applies (i. e., private lake and pond managers who are licensed by the state). Under the bill, Interior must renew the depredation order every five years.